UTI - wait for lab result before taking antibiotics?

[peeingdaggers]

For years I've had recurring UTIs and woke up today with the familiar symptoms: frequency, urgency, pain and some blood.

Dropped off a urine sample at the doctors this morning and I've just had a text saying it's positive for blood and white cells but depending on how I'm feeling I can pick up some antibiotics or wait until the lab results come back.

What are the benefits of waiting - knowing for sure that it is a UTI and which bacteria are behind it, to make sure the choice of antibiotic is correct?

Drawbacks are that I'm guessing it could take days to hear back from the lab and meanwhile I'm pissing daggers every 30 mins or less. There's also a small chance I'm pregnant but I'm not really sure that affects anything at this really early point. Thanks for any thoughts!

I get UTIs regularly, and the GP gives me a broad spectrum antibiotic to start, until the results come back. If I were you, I'd take the antibiotics now. UTIs are so unpleasant

I would take the antibiotics otherwise you could find your self dealing with an embedded infection which is a whole different level of hell.

Also lab results are know to miss approx 50% of infections, if you have symptoms you have an infection.

Thanks, both! Makes total sense. I have now picked them up and started taking them. Sorry you both get UTIs, too - they're the pits, aren't they?